Can you feed baby bottle in car seat

My wife and I took a roadtrip and thought that we were totally prepared. We brought bottles of pumped milk (stored in a cooler). We also brought a thermos of hot/warm water so that we can warm up the milk.

We figured that when our baby got hungry, we can give her a bottle. I did the driving, while my wife tended to the baby in the back.

About 30 minutes into the trip we heard the cry of hunger. We gave her a couple of ounces of milk after we warmed it up. All seem to be fine, until she got fussy and finally she had a big spit up.

We think that basically we couldn't burp her in the car so that's why she got fussy and eventually spit up.

Is there a better way to handle this in the future? I guess the proper thing to do would be to pull over at a rest stop, feed & burp the baby and then resume our trip.

Is feeding a baby in a moving vehicle bad practice?

asked Feb 19, 2012 at 9:06

While it might be useful on a long road trip to be able to do this, it is certainly easier to do this when at a rest stop - one of mine really needed to be burped after a bottle, and this worked best in the traditional 'over the shoulder' position, so we couldn't have done that safely when driving.

It also gives both the driver and partner time to work together to ensure the child is fine, and you get a break from driving for 15 minutes - which is always to be encouraged!

So I don't think it is 'bad practice' - it's just easier, more relaxing, and generally better to do it while stationary.

answered Feb 19, 2012 at 12:30

Rory Alsop♦Rory Alsop

26.4k8 gold badges61 silver badges112 bronze badges

3

My husband and I visit his family in Wisconsin at least once or twice or year. Until this year, we lived in Tennessee and this was a 12+ hour drive which we dutifully did with our son/son and daughter until this year when we realized that driving from Georgia would add another 4 hours to the drive. So now we fly.

During that time, we ALWAYS stopped to feed our kids bottles. Our daughter absolutely HAD to be burped well during and after every bottle. No way was that going to happen while driving.

However, my sister-in-law, who lived in Minnesota, would frequently feed her daughter in the backseat while her husband drove on car trips and never mentioned having any trouble. It's not necessarily bad practice, it may just be a bad practice for your daughter.

If your daughter's old enough and the trip isn't exceptionally lengthy, you might be able to avoid the whole issue by driving after she falls asleep for the night. We still visit my parents frequently (who live 4 hours away), and this is what we do for our 18-month-old. Granted, we don't get to our destination until almost midnight, but she falls asleep almost immediately when we put her in the car and stays that way until we get there so it's completely worth it.

answered Feb 19, 2012 at 20:16

Meg CoatesMeg Coates

11.9k1 gold badge29 silver badges46 bronze badges

I believe this is bad practice of the child is 3 months or younger. Reason being is that sometimes they may choke and get milk down wrong pipe. When 3 months or younger they need to be tilted forward and patted on back to help clear airway. You cant lean forward when they in car seat. Yeah 99% of time they can clear themselves, but when that yound they need little assistance. My.opinion.

answered Nov 10, 2019 at 19:18

Can you feed a baby in a car seat when traveling? Yes, when your baby gets hungry while you are traveling by car, can you feed the youngster in his car seat? But sometimes, you don’t have to feed your child inside a car, if she gets hungry along the road..

Traveling with a little baby?

Traveling with babies is scary. Most parents don’t want to take newborns on a journey. Sometimes, they argue and have conflicts about driving with little kids on long journeys.

Baby care isn’t an easy business. You don’t ever figure out when it stops or when you will be free from it. The thought of travelling with a bay for your first time can be scary, really scaring.

I have been a babysitter, helping my wife go to work. She is a busy mom, very busy. On many occasions, we travelled together with our little son. I drive and she takes care of our child.

Sometimes, she drives out with Danny, and from my observation, I feel nervous driving with a baby. It is like bringing in daycare into your car when traveling. You need to check constantly, to ensure he is ok and breathing. Just the thoughts of pulling over at the roadside every moment is more discouraging to every parent.

Then, feeding the baby in the car seat while driving through the traffic? It is a horrible experience for a careful mom to see her kid swaddled to the backseat screaming for food while she finds where to pull over.

Make sure you have everything you’ll need when travelling with a little child.

You don’t want to get on the road and discover you’ve forgotten something important. Bottle tote bags and portable bottle warmers are among the many useful items available for traveling with a baby. If you are a breastfeeding mother, you can pump out some milk for the baby and bring it along with you.

Read: can a pregnant lady eat salted egg?

Yes, you feed the baby while in a car seat. But park your car in a secured spot first so as to feed your baby with proper care. However, you should have in mind that your baby might choke if he’s fed in a car seat.

If you want to bottle feed your baby while driving, ensure to stop the car and attend to the baby with no divided attention. This is for your baby’s safety and this way you can ensure food doesn’t spill on your infant’s car seat.

However, if your baby’s seat gets dirty, ensure to clean it immediately to keep your baby safe and healthy. Is it really okay to feed a baby in a car seat?

Is it okay to feed a baby in a car seat?

 You can feed your baby in a car seat but you should avoid doing so. Babies can fall out of their seats while eating.

If you want to bottle feed your baby while driving, make sure you park your car first so as to do it carefully. This will prevent the bottle from falling and it will also avoid milk from spilling all over the place. As we have said above, you can feed your baby in a car seat. However, as a mother, you should put the following child passenger rules in mind.

Firstly, make sure your baby is in a seated position before you feed him. Second, make certain that the car seat straps are secure and do not move. Also, babies become overly stressed after sitting in a car seat for so long. Remove your baby from the car seat when you notice he is becoming stressed.

Can I feed my baby in his car seat while driving?

Can you feed a baby while swaddled in a moving car? No. Giving food to the baby when the car is on the move is really dangerous. As a matter of concern, you should avoid giving your kids a bottle, or solid foods like grapes and popcorn, while the car is moving as they can make the baby choke.

Why it isn’t safe to breastfeed a newborn in a car

Doctors always advise against feeding your baby while driving.  Reason being that babies need to move freely while they eat but that isn’t possible in a car seat since it is a strapped-in chair.

But since babies are always hungry, you can take some precautions while feeding your baby in a car seat. The safest way to feed your baby in a car would entail that you pack your vehicle somewhere, take your baby out of the car and go where it is safer before feeding the youngster.

If you can’t do that, you can feed your baby carefully in the car while seating at the back. Some curious parents often ask why it is a bad idea to breastfeed babies in a car. Here’s why:

• It isn’t good to breastfeed a baby while in a car because the baby can choke in the course of feeding and that is extremely dangerous.
• While in a car seat, babies cannot freely move their heads. This makes it very difficult and uneasy for the baby during feeding. You wouldn’t want to stress the baby.
• Also, feeding a baby in a car can make them very tired hence causing them to sleep.
• It can lead to ear infections. Milk can mistakenly get into the ear cavity of a baby when he eats at a lower inclined position.

Bottle-feeding – Can you give a bottle in the car?

This is a debatable question. Most parents prefer it, others don’t. It depends on the sitting position of the child.

Can you feed your baby a bottle in his car seat?

Can I bottle feed baby in the car seat? You can bottle feed your baby in a car seat if you hold the milk bottle up properly.

You can let your baby hold his feeding bottle on his own only when you ensure your baby is sitting upright and you have your eyes on him. Bottle feeding in a moving car should be done only when the car is in a stable posture.

CanCan you bottle feed a baby in a car seat? Yes, you can feed the baby while in the car the car seat and, sometimes, you seriously don’t just have, even if your little baby looks very hungry.

Is bottle feeding in a car safe?

It’s risky to give a baby a bottle in a car seat since they aren’t lying on their backs comfortably enough. Feeding babies in this manner can make their head slide forward, making breathing difficult for them.

It’s always preferable to feed a baby while they’re lying on their back in a stable position. If you must be out and about with your baby, make sure the baby is comfortable.

Best time to feed a baby in a car seat

When travelling with a little baby, expect them, like any other human being, to get hungry on the way. You have no choice to give her food when she gets hungry in the middle of your journey.

One crucial thing is when to feed your baby on a journey. So what is the best time to feed your child if you are driving? When can you feed your baby in the car seat?

1. When you’ve parked your car in a secured spot.

You’ll always be better off stopping at a safe spot, if at all possible.

You have to make it a routine that when an infant wants foods; you pull over to the roadside(if outside the city), move to the back seat and feed your child carefully. It is not wise to cross your baby over to the driver’s seat for feeding.

You can take your baby out of the car seat for fresh air while feeding him. A toddler isn’t supposed to sit in a car seat for more than 2 hours. So taking your baby out to feed him from time to time is rather good, especially if the journey is a long one.

A shopping malt is a good place, or near an elementary school., or gas station. Struggling to feed the baby inside the car can make the car seat really messy and filthy.

2. Avoid feeding babies when the car is moving.

In case of an accident, if your little baby was holding a feeding bottle, it’ll harm him. Even if we hope this never happens, it is necessary to consider it from a safety perspective.

A bottle would become a projectile in the event of a crash and might damage your baby. It’s also a safety issue because of the risk of choking, as well as the possibility of motion sickness or an upset stomach for your youngster.

3. when you are not travelling in a rush.

More importantly, feed your child when you are not travelling in a rush. The best time is when you are on maternity leave, so that you take a lot of time to attend to your hungry baby.

Shopping for your baby

• baby diapering products
• baby and toddler feeding supplies
• child safety car seats and accessories
• baby activity and entertainment products

Best food to feed your baby when traveling by car

Evenflo Feeding Classic Prints Polypropylene Bottles for Baby, Infant and Newborn

What should I feed my little child while driving? Your baby’s mealtime can be a lot easier if you know what kind of food she needs during your journey.  The foods below are good to take along with you while traveling with your baby:

Finger meals like dry cereal, Goldfish crackers; Cheerios, O-shaped oatmeal, breadsticks, toast strips, and small waffles are very good to take along while traveling with your baby.

Cut up fruits and vegetables into little pieces if you’re making food ahead of time.

Make sure to always take food and drinks or water with you so as to stay hydrated and nourished.

If your child is bottle-fed, make sure to pay attention to the bottle rather than simply propping it up. This will help reduce messes in the car seat.

Use a blanket, towel, or bib to protect the vehicle seat as much as possible from any food or drink spillage.

Before you go behind the wheel, double-check that your youngster is securely secured in his or her car seat.

If you’re driving a long distance, make sure to stop from time to time and take your baby outside so that your baby won’t seat in the same position for a long time.

Best food to NOT feed your little child in a car seat

Certain food types can be a lot more dangerous for your infant when driving. I guess you want your little kid to chew the food and swallow properly without issues.

 Allowing your little one to eat while driving is easier if she can feed herself. Choking hazards exist in some foods, which will be mentioned below.

Cherry tomatoes, whole grapes, carbonated and caffeine drinks, pop corn and nuts, hot dogs, sausage, peanuts, Ice cream, jelly beans.

Choking hazards exist in whole grapes and cherry tomatoes.

If you are bottle-feeding, be cautious behind the wheel. The bottle should be positioned so that the nipple is filled of formula, not air, and the baby’s head should be higher than the stomach.

Give your child no fizzy beverages or caffeine-containing products.

While driving, you can feed your sweetheart, but make sure it is not too hot.

To keep the vehicle seat from being soiled, use a plastic or silicone placemat.

Avoid giving your baby girl solid foods like grapes, nuts, and popcorn. Hot dogs, sausage, and peanuts are among them. Solid foods can lead to a choke. Give children soft or sticky foods like candy, ice cream, and jellybeans with caution. Also, never allow your lovely baby to eat in the car.

If you give your tender baby salty snacks (they cause dehydration) like chips, give him a glass of water to prevent the baby from dehydration.

Giving your baby peanuts or nuts itself can trigger an allergic reaction. You should always have your sweetie kids tested to know what they are allergy to.

If your baby feeds using a feeding bottle, you should pay attention while he eats. Always ensure that your baby sits erect while he eats.

Carrots can promote tooth decay, so avoid feeding your baby this, especially while traveling.

Chocolate can also lead to tooth decay, so avoid giving your baby as well.

Do not give children grapes while they are in a car. Grapes often lead to choking in little children.

Tips how to feed a baby while traveling

Our son Danny, is still less than 7months, so tender. My wife breast feeds him when traveling, and there are time she does not.

Depending on the how old your dearest baby is, you can choose to breastfeed, feed with solid food, or let the child eat by herself.

What about tips on how to feed a baby while traveling? For feeding in car seats, there are recommendations or safety tips for parents.

How do you feed a baby on a road trip?

1. Stop the car before breastfeeding your kids
2. When your babe is eating or drinking from a bottle, never leave them alone.
3. Use a 5-point harness baby car seat that is suitable for use in cars. .
4. Ascertain that the car seat is placed correctly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
5. Make sure you can see your baby’s face if you’re jogging or running with the seat and he or she is sipping from a bottle.
6. Bottles with free-flow soft silicone or orthodontic nipples should not be used since they diminish fluid intake and cause dehydration.
7. Make sure the seat belt is winded around the car seat rather than your child.
8. Only feed them in the car’s back seat. Feeding time is not recommended when driving because you cannot focus on both at the same time.

How to feed the baby in a car seat

What should i consider when feeding my baby in a car seat? I suggest every parent should keep the following in mind when bottle-feeding your baby:

1. Use bottle holder to keep the bottle in place
2. Don’t support the bottle with your hands
3. Don’t give your kid solid food – can easily cause choking
4. Put a towel or blanket on the car seat before feeding your babe in the car
5. Hold the bottle for your baby.

Very important:

If you must feed your baby in the car, never leave the baby alone with the bottle propped up. Feeding your baby yourself will prevent your baby from choking, ears infections and tooth decay.

Can a woman drive with newborn after CS?

Some ladies when through painful delivery, especially if they had a CS. If that is the case with you, don’t drive until you are cleared of it. Women are often instructed to limit most tasks and activities after having delivered through the CS. The moment you are cleared of everything according to your health status, you would be more happy to spend more time with your baby, and you will probably driver her around the city.

My advice! As much as you love to be close to your little princess, let someone else drive while you cater to her in the backseat. If you must drive, you should go out alone, drive around as many times as you can, to build back your confidence. Your confidence level is very important in making your travel safer for babies.

XXX DANGER !!  – AVOID FEEDINING A BABY WHILE DRIVING

Wrap Up

 The truth is that, feeding your baby in a car can hardly be avoided because their schedules are unpredictable. If you must feed your baby while driving, do ensure to park your car first. It is for your safety and that of your baby, since you are giving your full attention. Ensure to take along enough snacks while traveling to be on the safe side. They should be snacks that can’t mess up your baby’s seat since it is difficult to clean. Being a parent isn’t an easy job, but if you plan carefully and have the necessary stuff on hand, it wouldn’t be as hard as you think.

FAQs

Can you feed the baby with solids in a car seat?

 If you are traveling with older babies or toddlers, you mustn’t stop every time you want to give them a snack. The best thing to do is avoid foods that can cause choking hazards. Avoid solid food like popcorn, grapes, nuts and carrots as they can lead to choking in babies. Also, try to avoid snacks that can mess up the baby’s seat. Car seats for babies are difficult to clean so you wouldn’t want to mess them up.

Can you breastfeed your baby in a car seat?

 Despite the fact that you can breastfeed a baby in a car, it isn’t safe for both the mum and the baby. If you are traveling over a long distance, you can pump and bottle feed your baby instead, since it is safer. Freshly pumped milk can stay for about 4 hours in room temperature. If your journey exceeds four hours, you can bring a cooler with you. That Way the milk can last longer.

However, if you have never bottled fed your baby, you do not have to start because you are in a car. You can take your baby out of his seat and feed him in the back seat. Once he’s fed, you can put him back in his seat.

How to burp a baby in a car seat

 Holding your infant and placing them upright or over your lap while rubbing their back is how you burp your baby. Although there is no way to properly burp your baby in a car seat, burping them after a bottle is always recommended.

You’ll need to stop to ease yourself when traveling, and this is a good opportunity to feed your baby. Feed your baby, burp them, and change their diaper at each stop.

If you remember to burp them before leaving, you’ll be able to avoid making any unnecessary stops.

How long can a baby be in a car seat?

 Car seats should not be used for long periods of time by newborns. This is due to the fact that their bodies are still in the early phases of development, their spines are still forming, and lengthy durations of sitting upright may impede their breathing. For babies, the two-hour rule applies: no more than two hours in a 24-hour period.

How do you feed a baby on a road trip?

Don’t feed baby in a car seat while the car is moving. Bottles become projectiles in the event of a crash. Motion sickness is something to consider as well as choking hazards while a vehicle is in motion. Don’t feed babies solid items of food that could be choking hazards, like grapes, in the car.

is it ok to keep baby swaddled while bottle feeding?

Can you feed a baby while swaddled? Babies can also fall out of their seats while trying to eat. Therefore, you need to be very careful while feeding a baby in a car seat.

How long can a newborn be in a car seat?

2 hours is enough. Many car seat manufacturers recommend you should not allow a baby to be in a car seat for any time longer than 2 hours per day. (24 hour). When you allow your baby to stay in a semi-upright position for a prolonged period, he can get a strain on the still-developing spine.

Can you feed baby solid food in a car seat?

What should i consider when feeding my baby in a car seat, with solid foods? Don’t feed your little baby solid items while in his car seat, because they could cause choking hazards.  Can you feed baby puree in a car seat when the car is on the move? NO.